Railroad electric lantern



WITNESS: d J

H. C.'BHECKENRIDGE.

RAILROAD ELECTRIC LANTERN.

APPLKCATION FILED AUG 16, I919.

' Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

INVENTOR. 1: Yb! CBrec/Eenrz'ag'ye.

A TTORNE Y.

H. C. BRECKENRIDGE.

RAILROAD ELECTRIC LANTERN.

APPLlCATiON FILED {\UG.I6, 1919. l

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

3 SHEETS -SHEET 2.

A: TTORNE Y.

H. C BRECKENRIDGE. RAILROAD ELECTRIC LANTERN.

a APPLlCATiON FILED AUG. 16, 1919. 1,349, 548, Patented Aug, 10, 1929WITNESS: INVENTOIE A d. .ZZomad B bftlfirecfiemrzd e A TTORNE Y.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oF'Flcs.

HAROLD C. BRECKENRIDGE, F MUEa'SEIiSHELL, MONTANA.

RAILROAD ELECTRIG LANTERN.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

Application filed August 16, 1919. Serial No. 318,012.

electric lantern, which will display either a red, green or white light,and is especially adapted for use as a railroad signalv lamp.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a lantern in whichthe source of light is normally housed within the lantern casing toafford protection when not in use, but which is capable of being movedto extend. beyond the casing and of being auto matically lighted when inthis last named position.

Another object is the provision of novel means for lighting the lamps orbulbs of a lantern, so that either a red, green or white light may bequickly brought into position for use.

A. further object the provision of a lantern capable of resting uponeither its top or bottom and when in the latter position having itslight shielded or protected, and when in the former position exposingthe light, so that it may be seen from acousiderable distance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as thefollmving dei-wriptii'iu is read in connection with the acconipauyingdrawings.

in the drawings:

l igure .1. is a perspective view of a lantern embodying the presentinvention.

lhig. Q is a bottom plan view of the same.

.l ig. 3 a view similar to Fig. 2,, with the bottom cap removed.

Fig. a1- is a vertical central, section through the lantern, showing oneof the bulbs in lighted position by dotted lines.

Fig. 5 a section at right angles to Fig. el.

Fig. (i an clevation showing the lantern in reverse position from thatshown in the other figures of the drawing and showing one of the bulbsexposed.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section showing the manner of housing thebattery Within the lantern.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, like characters ofreference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views.

As shown in the accompanying drawings,

the lantern includes a casing 10 of suitable size and shape, the oneherein shown being rectangular. This casing is divided transversely by apartments 12 and 13. The last named compartment is lined with suitableinsulation 15 and contains a battery 15. This battery may contain anydesired number of cells and may be one of the commercial batteries nowin use. terminals 16 and 17, the former contacting? with the partition11, through an opening in the lining 14 and the latter contacting with aplate 18, extending through said lining and insulated from the partition11.

Located within the compartment 12, is a rotatably mounted shaft 19, thesaidshaft being mounted in a bearing bracket 20 and.

having one end in contact with a frame arm 21, secured to the casing.10, to provide electrical continuity from the contact 16 through thecasing to the shaft 19. The 0})- positc end of the shaft extends throughthe casing and has mounted thereon a turn button 22, by meansof whichthe shaft may be rotated. Mounted upon the shaft 19, is an insulatingblock 23, which is preferably of rectangular cross sectional shape, andis provided upon three of its sides with metallic contact strips 24.()no end of the block 23 is surrouiuled upon three sides with a metallicmember 25 having arms 26 extend ing over and insulated from the contactstrips 2-21, by a strip of insulation 27. Each of the arms 26 carry alamp socket 28, for the reception of a bulb 29, the latter being coveredby a globe 30 mounted upon a holder 31. These globes are colored toprovide signal lights and include a red, a green and a white globe. Itis preferred to ar range the globes with the green interposed betweenthe red and white, as the latter are the ones more frequently used, butit is, of

course, apparent that this may be governed as desired it being merelynecessary to change the globes to arrange the lights in any order.

Located in a pocket 32, formed upon the interior of the casing 10, is aninsulating block 33, the said block carrying a spring contact arm 34 forengagement with any one of the contact plates 24 as the shaft 19 ispartition 11, to provide com- It is provided with opposite.

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rotated. The arm 34: is electrically connected to the plate 18, throughthe medium of a wire 55, which is secured upon a stud 36, which servesto secure the plate 18 in position.

Secured to the casing 10, is a support, which comprises a base formedpreferably of a ring 37, which is connected to the casing by means ofarms 38, which extend through the casing, as shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings. This provides means for supporting the casing, so that any oneof the bulbs may be extended through a slot 39, formed in a cap i0.which is removably secured to one end of the casing 10. The

opposite end of the casing is covered by a cap 41, which serves to holdthe battery in position and may also act as a support for the lanternwhen in the position shown in Fig. 6.

The lantern is provided with a handle 42, which is pivotally secured toeach side of the casing 19 and which may be held against pivotalmovement by engagement with a notch 43 located upon each side of thecasing.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it will beseen that the invention provides a lantern in which the source of lightis normally housed within the casing, the said lantern containing aplurality of diiferently colored bulbs, any num-' ber of which may bemoved to a position to extend beyond the casing and to be automatieallylighted when in such position.

The invention further provides a lantern which may be used in a reversedposition to. vform a stationary lamp, with its light projected above thecasing, so as to be seen from a. considerable distance.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportionsand minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved tomake such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having described the invention. what is claimed is:

l. A lantern comprising a casing having an opening in one end thereof. ashaft mounted for rotation within the casing and disposed transverselyof the opening. electric bulbs carried by and extending radially fromthe shaft and included in a normally open circuit, means whereby the vhaft may be rotated to project any one of the lllllllrthrough saidopening and means for automatically closing the circuit when one of thebulbs is thus projected.

2. A lantern comprising a casing having an opening in one end thereof. ashah mounted for rotation within the casing and disposed transversely ofthe opening. electric bulbs carried by and extending radially from theshaft and included in a normally opened circuit. means whereby the shafl may be rotated to project any one, of the bulbs through saidopeningand combined means for closing the circuit when one of the bulbs is thusprojected and for yieldingly holding the shaft against rotation.

3. A lantern comprising a casing having an opening in one end thereof, ashaft mounted for rotation within the casing and disposed transverselyof the opening. a inenr ber having a rectangular cross sectional shapecarried by the shaft, contact plates located upon said membe' andincluded in a normally opened circuit, electric bulbs carried by thepontact plates. a yieldable contact member also included in the openedcircuit and adapted to close the circuit when engaged with one of thefirst mentioned contact plates and to yieldingly hold the shaft againstrotation and means whereby the shaft may be rotated to project one oflhe bulbs through the opening and automatically close the circuit whenthe bulb is thus projected.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

HAROLD C. BRECKENRIDGE.

